Conveyor systems

ABSTRACT

A Conveyor system for passengers or goods having low-speed, high-speed and intermediate variable speed sections. The Conveyor utilizes platforms which are driven in the high-speed section by means of a moving cable beneath the platforms, the latter having connectors for snap-on and-off engagement to drive or release the platforms in the high-speed section, of which the following is a specification.

United States Patent 1 1 Cumberbirch 1111 3,744,431 July 10, 1973 CONVEYOR SYSTEMS [75] Inventor: Alan Cumberbirch, Fleet, England [73] Assignee: Dunlop Holdings Limited, London,

England [22] Filed: July 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,705

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 6, 1970 Great Britain 32,009/70 July 17, 1970 Great Britain 34,711/70 July 10,1970 Great Britain 33,521/70 52 U. S.Cl. 104 25, 198/16 MS, 198/110, 104/238 51 Int..Cl. ..B65g21/16 [58] Field of Search, 104/25, 134, 165,

[56 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,590,741 7/1971 Zuppiger 104/25 2,844,241 7/1958 King 198/110 1,671,207 5/1928 Parlongue a 198/76 743,381 11/1903 Gunckel 104/239 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT A Conveyor systemfor passengers or goods having lowspeed, high-speed and intermediate variable speed sections. The Conveyor utilizes platforms which are driven in the high-speed section by means of a moving cable beneath the platforms, the latter having connectors for snap-on and-off engagement to drive or release the platforms in the high-speed section, of which the fol.- lowing is a specification.

8 6 Drawing Figures PMENItlmm 10mm SHEEI 2 [If 4 PAIENIEU Jun 0191a SHEET 0F 4 1 CONVEYOR SYSTEMS This invention relates to conveyor systems, and in particular to platform type conveyors comprising a low-speed section, a high-speed section and a variable speed section. Conveyors of this type may be used for the transport of goods or passengers.

Driving and braking the platforms in the high-speed section has hitherto utilized either complex synchronized drives to each platform or a drive to only a. few platform and mechanical links between the platforms which must be locked and then unlocked to allow the speed change to occur.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a simpler, more flexible and more economic means of drive for the platforms in the high-speed sections.

According to one aspect of the present invention a platform conveyor comprises a slow-speed zone, a high-speed zone and an intermediate variable-speed zone wherein the platforms are driven in the high-speed zone by means of a moving cable running adjacent to the platforms, the cable being driven in the direction of movement of the platforms and engaged by projecting means provided on each of the said platforms.

According to another aspect of the invention such a platform conveyor may be provided with two moving cables and each platform is provided with two spacedapart projecting means, one for engagement with each of the moving cables.

The engagement to the cable is preferably by means of a snap-on connector which grips the cable and provides a friction drive between the cable and each plat-v form. The snap connection may be induced by paddleshaped lifting members forcing the cable into or out of the connector at the required position in the path of the conveyor.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides platform drive scrolls for driving the platforms immediately before the cable driven high-speed section and during the cable engaging process. The drive scrolls may be extended to form the drive means in the speedchanging zone and also the low-speed zone drive means.

A still further aspect of the invention provides a platform turning means comprising a capstan adapted to take platforms from the low-speed zone of a conveyor end station, to turn the platforms around a vertical axis and re-insert them into the low-speed end of a second return conveyor path. The second conveyor path comprises slow-speed, high-speed and variable speed zones as required. I

The invention also provides a transport system, utilizing the above conveyors, for use between a series of buildings. Various forms of loading and unloading stations may be utilized to control or limit the traffic on the conveyor.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, by way of example only, of some embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan of a platform conveyor having two directions of travel, the section shown below being illustrated with the platforms in phantom lines to show the drive means.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on the line II-II ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a single platform.

FIG. 4 is a plan of the drive mechanism at an end station of a two cable conveyor.

FIG. 5 shows the drive arrangement of the conveyor of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows part of a transport system.

The conveyor illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises two stationary end stations 1, 2 and two separate conveyor runs 3, 4 between the end stations, one conveyor run travelling in each direction. An intermediate loading station 5 is provided for each run (the station for the lower run of FIG. 1 not being shown) and the lowspeed zones are those indicated A, B and C (as shown in FIG. 2).

The conveyor is generally that disclosed in British Patent No. 1,185,913 and comprises a series of platforms 6 which are moved to provide a speed variation such 7 that the' conveyor moves slowly at the loading points (about 2 m.p.h) and quickly in the main travelling zones (e.g. about 10 m.p.h.). The speed variation is achieved by means of guide rails which position the platforms substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the conveyor in the slow-speed zone and progressively turn the platforms about a vertical axis until, in the high-speed zones the platforms are at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the conveyor (as shown in FIG. 1 approaching station 5). In the low-speed zone the platforms overlap one another but the degree of overlap is reduced on acceleration until'in the high-speed zone there is substantially no overlapping.

The platforms are driven in the low-speed zones and the variable speed zones by means of pairs of scrolls 7, 8 and 9 (only one of each pair being shown as described in the specification of UK. Patent No. 1,185,913). Each of the scrolls is rotated by ,a motor and has a helical groove extending along its outer surface which engages a projection at the side of each platform, the other side being driven by the other scrolls of the pairs. The scroll 8 in the low-speed zone passing the loading platform 5 has a small lead on its helical groove whereas the scrolls 7 and 9 have an increasing lead on the helical grooves to accelerate or decelerate the platforms as they pass through the speed change zones and are turned by the guide rails. The high-speed, high lead, end regions 10 of each scroll 7, 9 propel the platforms at the speed of the high-speed runs and the lead of the helical grooves corresponds to the platform spacing.

The platforms are driven in the high-speed zones 11 at either side of the intermediate loading platform by means of a cable 12 which is brought into engagement with the platforms in the high-speed zones. The cable 12 isdriven at a constant speed and is passed under the low-speed and acceleration zones by means of guide pulleys 13a (see FIG. 2) and is brought up to engage the platforms when they are being driven by the regions 10 of the scrolls where the platforms are held in the required spaced relationship.

The engagement means between each platform 6 and the cable 12 is as illustrated in FIG. 3. The platform 6 has provided a guide pin 13 at either side for engagement with the grooves in the drive scrolls, each guide pin 13 having a set of wheels 14 for supporting the platform on the guide rails. At the center of each-platform a hook member 15 projects downwardly. The hook V member 15 is made of steel (a resilient plastics material also can be used) and has a slot 16 machined upwardly into which the cable 12 may be pushed. The slot 16 has a progressively narrowing entry region 17 and a circular holding region 18 having a diameter a little smaller than the diameter of the cable 12, the region between the entry region 17 and the holding region 18 forming shoulders for retaining a cable in the region 18.

The cable 12 is forced through the entry 17 into the holding region 18 by means of a paddle-shaped lifting device 19 which comprises three arms 20 equally spaced about and projecting from a power-driven shaft. The shaft is driven so that a lifting device forces the cable upwardly between successive platforms so that the cable is forced through the entry region 17 of the slot 16 and snaps into the holding region 18 successively to engage and drive the platforms. Soon after this engagement the platform passes from the scroll driven region and is then driven solely by the cable 12.

When the platform reaches a deceleration zone immediately before the next loading station a further paddle device 21 engages the cable to hold it in position and a pulley 21a pulls the'cable downwardly so that it is disengaged from the hook member 15 leaving the platform powered solely by the deceleration scrolls. The cable continues below the loading station carried on pulleys as before.

At the first end station 1 the platforms emerge from under the station 1 at the point 22 and are powered by scrolls 23 (only one being shown). These scrolls accelerate the platforms through the region A in FIG. 2 up to the fast speed whereupon thelifter 24 engages the cable 12 for drive through the first high-speed zone. At the end of this zone the paddle and roller 21, 21a disengage the cable and the scrolls 7, 8 and 9 power the platforms through the low-speed station and reaccelerate them. The lifters l9 and 25 repeat the high-speed drive operation first described and the scrolls 26 slow them down until they pass under the other end station 2. A similar sequence of events occurs in the run of the conveyor shown at the top of FIG. 1.

At the end stations the platforms are moved onto a power-driven capstan 27 which engages the scroll pins 13 and carries the platforms around through 180 whereupon the next set of acceleration scrolls reengages with pins 13 and carries the platforms into the next run of the conveyor. The high-speed cable 12 is passed around a co-axial pulley 28 mounted with respect to the capstan which is separately driven at a higher speed to the capstan.

The top surface of the capstan 27 is radially grooved or provided with notches in either edge to engage the pins of the platforms to position the platforms during turning. If required the scrolls adjacent to the capstan may have a larger lead to space out the platforms so that each one may be more easily loaded onto the capstan.

Cable tensioning means are provided where convenient to accommodate dimensional changes due to temperature, wear and stretch of the cable. Braking means and additional drive means may be provided at any of the intermediate cable pulleys as required by the particular installation.

The engagement to the cable is not made at fixed points along the cable length and thus cable stretch does not result in mis-spacing of the platforms which are spaced entirely by the scrolls preparatory to engaging the cable drive. Wear on the cable is thus spread along its whole length and not at limited points as is the case if engagement shoulders were to be used on the cable.

For use on paths in which curves are employeda hearing may be provided on the hook member 15. the said bearing being arranged to run on a guide rail placed at each curve, whereby side forces due to the pull of the cable are taken by the bearing contacting the guide rail.

To prevent gaps between the platforms in the event of slippage a flexible tie cord may be used to connect adjacent hook members. The cord being slightly longer than the normal spacing between such adjacent members.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 intended for straight line use two drive belts 29. Each platform 30 is mounted on two guide pins 31 only one of which is shown in FIG. 5, and each guide pin supports, drives and guides the platform. The guide pin 31 carries two co-axial bearings 32, 33 mounted in spaced relationship on the vertical axis of the pin 31 and a wheel 34 mounted on an inwardly-projecting stub 35. The bearings and wheel run on tracks on a main support bed 36 for the conveyor and thus the guide pins support the platforms and cause the orientation change required for the speed change. An outwardly projecting stub 37 is also provided, having a bearing 38 for engagement with a scroll 39 as required. The lower end of each pin has an entry region and a holding region 40 similar to that of the first embodiment for engaging a cable. I

The two cables 29 and 30 are run along the conveyor underneath each row of drive pegs and are brought into and allowed to move out of engagement by lifter devices 41, 42 as before. The cables are passed around guide pulleys 43 at the end stations which are remote from the capstan 27 and separate pulleys 44, 45 each having drive and braking means provided for each cable. As before scrolls 46 are used for platform drive in the low-speed and variable-speed zones. (Only one set of scrolls being shown in FIG. 4).

To accommodate slight speed variations in the drive system and uneven cable stretch, either one of the drive pulleys 44 and 45 may be of a construction enabling the diameter to be varied or alternatively each may be separately powered and speed correction means utilized to maintain substantially constant belt speeds. Such devices are', however, only necessary for long high-speed runs as for short runs the correct initial spacing of the platforms when snapped onto the cables from the scrolls is sufficient to prevent misalignment of the platforms.

The cable drive may be utilized for other types of conveyor and provides a cheap and flexible drive means for the high-speed zones of such conveyors without the necessity for platform interlocking.

The conveyor may be provided on the inside of its path with a balustrade of the type disclosed in U.I(. Patent No. 1,185,913 but without the arrangement for automatic openings at stations. The barrier moves with the pavement and is arranged to appear at the end stations immediately before the edge of the platform where the platform emerges. The outer balustrade may be of the conventional type used on escalators in the first zones and in the slow and acceleration zones it could be in the form of a telescopic handrail or separate hand grips operated by helical strakes located within the balustrade except where the edge should be clear for loading and unloading.

Conveyors of this type may conveniently be used for transport systems between buildings such as shown in FIG. 6. Four buildings A, B, C, D, are illustrated having loading stations 46. Each station 46 is a low-speed section of the conveyor and the narrow sections 47 are high-speed, cable driven conveyor zones which are curved at the ends or between buildings if required. (The curvature is allowed by slight overlapping of the platforms). The stations may be inside the buildings or in an extension as shown and may be on any convenient level; for example, first floor level avoids existing street traffic. v

Having now described my invention What I claim 1. A platform conveyor comprising a slow-speed zone, a high-speed zone and an intermediate variablespeed zone wherein the platforms are driven in the high-speed zone by means of a moving cable running adjacent to the platforms, the cable being driven in the direction of movement of the platforms and engaged by projecting means provided on each of the said platforms, the projecting means comprising a fixed member provided with a slot for engaging the cable, the slot having a cable entry region and a holding region of a diameter slightly less than the cable diameter wherein shoulders are provided between the two said regions spaced-apart by a distance less than the cable diameter so that the cable may beretained in the holding region of the slot.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein two moving cables are provided and each platform comprises two spaced-apart projecting means one for engagement with each of the moving cables.

3. A conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the speed of one moving cable may be varied relative to the speed of the other cable to compensate for drive system 6 speed irregularity.

4. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein a cablelifting device, mounted under the platforms, comprises at least one paddle arm projecting from a shaft and driven by the shaft whereby an arm contacts the cable between the projecting means of adjacent platforms to force the cable into the slot of the fixed member.

5. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein a cable disengaging device comprises a paddle arm projecting from a shaft and driven by the shaft and a pulley wheel positioned below the cable path in the high-speed zone whereby the. arm contacts the cable and maintains it in engagement with platforms to the one side of the arm and the pulley pulls the cable down to the other side of the arm such that it is pulled out of the holding portion of the slot.

6. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein theplatforms are driven in the low-speed and variable-speed zones by scroll means engaging projecting pins at the sides of each platform and the cable for drive in the high-speed zone is engaged in the projecting means while the platforms are in spaced-apart relationship defined by the scrolls.

7. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the platforms travel along two substantially adjacent paths each on substantially the same horizontal level and end stations are provided wherein the platforms are turned through by capstans which take each platform in turn from the low-speed end zone and feed it into the return low-speed end zone.

8. A transport system comprising a conveyor according to claim 1 wherein high-speed zones are provided between adjacent buildings and each building at which loading or unloading is required has provideda lowspeed zone. 

1. A platform conveyor comprising a slow-speed zone, a highspeed zone and an intermediate variable-speed zone wherein the platforms are driven in the high-speed zone by means of a moving cable running adjacent to the platforms, the cable being driven in the direction of movement of the platforms and engaged by projecting means provided on each of the said platforms, the projecting means comprising a fixed member provided with a slot for engaging the cable, the slot having a cable entry region and a holding region of a diameter slightly less than the cable diameter wherein shoulders are provided between the two said regions spaced-apart by a distance less than the cable diameter so that the cable may be retained in the holding region of the slot.
 2. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein two moving cables are provided and each platform comprises two spaced-apart projecting Means one for engagement with each of the moving cables.
 3. A conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the speed of one moving cable may be varied relative to the speed of the other cable to compensate for drive system speed irregularity.
 4. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein a cable-lifting device, mounted under the platforms, comprises at least one paddle arm projecting from a shaft and driven by the shaft whereby an arm contacts the cable between the projecting means of adjacent platforms to force the cable into the slot of the fixed member.
 5. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein a cable disengaging device comprises a paddle arm projecting from a shaft and driven by the shaft and a pulley wheel positioned below the cable path in the high-speed zone whereby the arm contacts the cable and maintains it in engagement with platforms to the one side of the arm and the pulley pulls the cable down to the other side of the arm such that it is pulled out of the holding portion of the slot.
 6. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the platforms are driven in the low-speed and variable-speed zones by scroll means engaging projecting pins at the sides of each platform and the cable for drive in the high-speed zone is engaged in the projecting means while the platforms are in spaced-apart relationship defined by the scrolls.
 7. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the platforms travel along two substantially adjacent paths each on substantially the same horizontal level and end stations are provided wherein the platforms are turned through 180* by capstans which take each platform in turn from the low-speed end zone and feed it into the return low-speed end zone.
 8. A transport system comprising a conveyor according to claim 1 wherein high-speed zones are provided between adjacent buildings and each building at which loading or unloading is required has provided a low-speed zone. 